Holy Week

Bridget and Paul at Santiago Apostle Parish Ruins.

We had no classes during the last week of March because it was Holy Week. On Wednesday Edwin, a Costa Rican friend from church, took us on a tour of Cartago with his family. Cartago was the capital of Costa Rica when it was a Spanish colony. In 1824 the capital was moved to San Jose. Our first stop was the Santiago Apostle (St. James) Parish Ruins. It is a historical site that dates back to the 1500's and is the only example of Romanesque architecture in Costa Rica. Because of earthquakes, the original church and its replacement were destroyed and the current structure, begun in 1870, was never completed.

Our Costa Rican friends, Zeidy and Edwin.

Just a few blocks from the ruins is the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles (Our Lady of the Angels). Since it was Holy Week, people stood in line waiting to confess sins to the priest, some knelt or sat in pews praying, and others crawled on their knees from the entrance to the alter doing penance. Behind the alter was an ornate gold cabinet that overshadowed a small crucifix of Jesus hanging on the cross. The stained glass windows, statues, and woodwork were all beautiful, but the cabinet is the focal point of the church because it holds a small dark statue called La Negrita. It is an image of the Virgin Mary carrying the infant Jesus.  It is a revered relic. 

The Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Angeles.

Another memorable day of our vacation was Good Friday. There was a procession in our neighborhood with statues from the local Catholic church. The purpose was to portray the Stations of the Cross and act out the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. As they stopped at different houses along the route a scene would be acted out. For example, at one location the statue of Jesus carrying his cross was lowered by the bearers before a women in costume. The narrator set the scene, the women dramatically spoke her lines as she wiped the face of Jesus and the crowd recited prayers.

Good Friday procession in our neighborhood.

These are a few reminders that we live in a Catholic country. People follow traditions motivated by fear with no guarantee that they have done enough to earn God's favor. I (Bridget) grew up Catholic and can understand what Costa Ricans believe. We want to share with them what the Bible teaches. Jesus died on the cross and took the punishment for their sin and He rose from the dead guaranteeing eternal life with God in heaven. Anyone can be saved by confessing their sins and placing their faith in Jesus alone.

Charles F. Pfeiffer, in his book Old Testament History, offers these insights:

“In the days of Herod the Great, in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire, in the city which had been the birthplace of King David a millennium earlier, Jesus the Messiah was born. History took little note of His life. Only a few devoted disciples openly espoused His cause. The religious leaders attributed the miracles He performed to Beelzebub, the Prince of the Devils. To the Roman officials He was an insurrectionist; to the Jews, a blasphemer. In the hour of His trial, His disciples forsook Him and fled. He was crucified as a malefactor, between two thieves. His life and His death introduced a new age. From apparent defeat came the triumph of victory. The death of the cross is heralded as the divinely provided atonement for sin. The resurrection brings the assurance of life everlasting.”

We are rejoicing in our risen Savior, Jesus!

Serving Him,

Paul and Bridget